Serena Hotel Hosts US‑Iran Peace Talks in Islamabad
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- Serena Hotel became the venue for US‑Iran peace talks aimed at ending the Iran war.
- Islamabad shut shops and offices for two days and deployed unprecedented security ahead of the talks.
- Security personnel – thousands of paramilitary and army troops – set up checkpoints and blockades, cordoning off the Red Zone that houses government offices and embassies.
- JD Vance arrived as the head of the US delegation, leading the American side of the talks.
- Former police chiefs highlighted the Serena’s strategic location near the diplomatic zone and its record of protecting high‑profile guests.
Why it matters: Pakistan’s capital bears the immediate cost of a two‑day shutdown and massive security deployment, while the US and Iran secure a heavily fortified, neutral venue for their negotiations, potentially accelerating diplomatic progress on the Iran war. The shutdown also halts commerce and daily life for residents, highlighting the trade‑off between security and economic activity.
